Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, known mononymously as Vijay and addressed by fans as Thalapathy (commander), is an Indian actor, playback singer and politician who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. Active since the early 1990s, he is among the highest-paid and most commercially successful actors in the Tamil film industry. In February 2024, he formally entered politics by founding the political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), announcing that he would step away from films after fulfilling pending commitments.
| Full name | Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 June 1974, Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu |
| Father | S. A. Chandrasekhar (filmmaker) |
| Mother | Shoba Chandrasekhar (playback singer) |
| Spouse | Sangeetha Sornalingam (m. 1999) |
| Children | Jason Sanjay, Divya Saasha |
| Occupation | Actor, playback singer, politician |
| Years active (film) | 1984 (child artist); lead roles from 1992 |
| Debut as lead | Naalaiya Theerpu (1992) |
| Political party | Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (founded 2024) |
| Popular epithet | Thalapathy |
Vijay was born in Chennai to director S. A. Chandrasekhar and singer Shoba Chandrasekhar. His family hails from Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu. He had a younger sister, Vidhya, who died in childhood. He studied at Balalok Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Virugambakkam, and later took a degree course at Loyola College, Chennai, but did not complete it, choosing instead to pursue full-time acting.
He first appeared on screen as a child artist in his father's film Vetri (1984) and featured in several of his father's subsequent productions before debuting as a lead actor.
Vijay's first lead role came in Naalaiya Theerpu (1992), directed by his father. Through the early 1990s he appeared in romantic and family-oriented films such as Senthoorapandi (1993), Rasigan (1994) and Deva (1995). His breakthrough as a romantic lead came with Poove Unakkaga (1996), directed by Vikraman, which became a major commercial success.
A string of successful films, including Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997), Nerrukku Ner (1997), Thullatha Manamum Thullum (1999), Kushi (2000) and Friends (2001), established him as a leading star. Kadhalukku Mariyadhai won the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film. Kushi, directed by S. J. Suryah, was among the highest-grossing Tamil films of its time.
The Sundar C. directed Thirumalai (2003) marked a shift to action-oriented mass entertainers. Films such as Ghilli (2004, directed by Dharani), Pokkiri (2007, directed by Prabhu Deva) and Kaavalan (2011) were major commercial hits. Ghilli and Pokkiri are considered turning points that cemented his status as a leading commercial star and gave rise to the wider use of the title Thalapathy.
Vijay's collaborations with director A. R. Murugadoss produced three blockbusters — Thuppakki (2012), Kaththi (2014) and Sarkar (2018) — each engaging with social or political themes. Mersal (2017) and Bigil (2019), both directed by Atlee, were among the highest-grossing Tamil films of their respective years. He worked with Lokesh Kanagaraj on Master (2021) and Leo (2023), the latter being part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe. Other notable films of this period include Theri (2016), Beast (2022) and Varisu (2023).
After founding TVK, Vijay announced that GOAT (The Greatest of All Time, 2024), directed by Venkat Prabhu, and one further film would conclude his cinema career before he focuses on politics full-time.
Vijay has sung numerous songs in his own films, beginning with "Sollamale" in Love Today (1997). Frequently sung tracks include numbers from Kushi, Friends, Madhurey, Pokkiri, Kuruvi, Velayudham and Kaththi.
Vijay's films often carry overt social commentary, and his fan associations have long engaged in welfare activities through the Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, established in 2009. On 2 February 2024, he announced the formation of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (Tamil Nadu Victory Party), positioning it as a Dravidian, secular outfit. The party was officially recognised by the Election Commission of India later in 2024. Vijay has stated that TVK will contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election.
Vijay has received multiple Filmfare Awards South, SIIMA Awards, Vijay Awards and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards across his career. He has a wide international fan base, particularly in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and among the Tamil diaspora in the Gulf, Europe and North America. His films are routinely released as major theatrical events for Pongal and Diwali.
Vijay married Sangeetha Sornalingam, a Sri Lankan Tamil settled in the United Kingdom, on 25 August 1999 in Chennai. The couple have a son, Jason Sanjay, and a daughter, Divya Saasha. Vijay's family follows Christianity, while his wife is Hindu; he has often referred to his upbringing in a multi-faith household.
Vijay is widely regarded as one of the defining figures of post-2000 Tamil cinema, with a career spanning romantic dramas, family entertainers and large-scale action films. His fan associations are among the most organised in South Indian cinema, and his transition into electoral politics in 2024 placed him in a long line of Tamil film stars — including M. G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi, Jayalalithaa and Vijayakanth — who have entered Tamil Nadu's political mainstream.